Fire-shield for proscenium-arch openings of theaters.



PATENTED NOV. 22, 1904.

E. M. SMITH. y EIEE SHIELD EOE EEOSGENIUM EECE OEENINGS 0E THEATERS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. l, 1904.

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Wy @E the line 3 3 of Fig. l.

iviTan STATES p IIl/VARD M. SMITH, OF RICHIVIOND,

Patented November 22, i90/,L

PATENT unica.

VIIiI-IINIA, ASSI(v'NORy '17() MARIA L.

SMITH, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

SPECIFICATION formingV part of Letters Patent N o.

775,865, dated November 22, 1904.

Application led February l, 1904. Serial NoL 191,569. lNo modeLy 1'0 all m7110712/ 'nan/y concern,.- l

Be it known that I, HOWARD M. SMITH, a citi- I zen of the United States. residing at Richf mond, in the county ol Henrico and State oi ,l Virginia, have invented new and useful Im-` provements in Fire-Shields for Proscenium- Arch Openings of Theaters, oi' which the tol lowing is a speciiication.

This invention relates to lireproof shields for closing the liirosceniunrarch openings oi' theaters; and it has for its object to provide a shield which when moved into position to close the proscenium arch opening will thoroughly and effectively present an absolutely lireproo'l barrier between the auditorium of the theater and the stage, the shield being so constructed that it is transparent or opaque, whereby the firemen and theater attendants may intelligently adopt the proper precautions and measures for extinguishing or preventing the spread of the fire and whereby in case the lights are extinguished either in the auditorium or on the stage the light from one side or the other oi the shield may be freely transmitted through the latter, so as to illuminate the surroundings in such manner as to enable the iiremen and theater attendants to properly perform their duties and enable the audience to effect their escape.

To these ends my invention consists in the features and in the construction, combination, and arrangement oit' parts hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out .in the claims following the description, reference. being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, wherein@- Figure l is a view in elevation of my improved lire-shield. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. '1, and Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on Before proceeding to describe my invention in detail I deem it proper to preface such description with the statement that I do not wish to be understood as confining myseliI to a drop shield or curtain or to the speciiic construction of the frame forming a part of the shield, i'or the shield may be arranged so as to drop down across the proscenium-arch opening from the iiies above, or it may be made in the manner ot a pair ol" sliding doors, which may be arranged to slide 'trom opposite sides of the stage, or it may be movable in auysuitable manner, provided the shield may be readily moved into place to close the preset-minlnarch opening' so as to interpose an eli'ective lireprooi' barrier between the auditorium and the stage.

In the drawings forming a part ot' this speciiication, however, I have illustrated one simple embodiment of my invention, which I will now proceed to describe in detail.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral l indicates the stage oi' the theater, 2 the arched roof of the pl'oscenium opening, and 3 vertical guides arranged on each side of the proscenium opening and having the contour of a troug'h in cross-section, the shield being einbraced by and vertically movable in said trough-shaped guides. The top otl the curtain is provided with any suitable suspension de vice-such, for example, as a bail atm-by means of which the bail may be raised up among the iiies when the shield is not in use and by means of which it may be lowered so as to close the proscenium-arch opening when it is desired to interpose a Vreproot' barrier between the auditorium and the stage. The shield comprises two skeleton frames, each preferably consisting' oi: a number ot metal bars or strips 5, which intersect each other at right angles, as shown, the ifitcrsecting portions of said strips or bars being rigidly connected together by stove-bolts (Sm-that is to say, the intersecting portions oi' each oi.I said frames and the two iframes themselves are connected together with the stove-bolts 6, which pass through the intersecting portions of both of said frames. By constructing the :frames in the manner shown and described the shield comprises a large number of panels, each closed by a pane ot' mica 7, the mica panesbeing clamped between the two curtainframes.

To the lower edge of the shield is attached a tubular rib 8, comprising a strip of metal bent into substantially cylindrical shape and provided at itsl meeting edges with two upwardly-projecting anges 9, said iianges embracing the lower edge of the shield and rigidly attached thereto by bolts 10. The tubular rib is compactly filled with a packing composed of comminuted or powdered mica and asbestos. The rib thus constructed adords great rigidity to the shield, and owing to its lireproof qualities and its low conductivity as a heat-conducting medium will efectually resist the action ot' heated currents of air and flame which seek to gain egress underneath the shield.

In the event of a contlagration taking place upon the stage of the theater it is only necessary to move the shield into position across the proscenium-arch opening, when an absolutely lireprool: barrier will be interposed between the stage and the auditorium, and the shield being formed of mica said shield will be transparent, thereby permitting the firemen and theater attendants to intelligentlyY direct their etlorts to prevent the spread of the conlagration orto extinguish the same, and at the same time it will permit of the transmission of light through the shield, so that in the event of the lights being extinguished either in the auditorium or among the scenery the actors or audience will have ample illumination to elect their escape in safety. Furthermore, it has proven a source of danger in the employment of the ordinary asbestos curtains now in general use that they are subjected to the action of hot currents of air in suoli manner that at times the curtain is blown away at the sides or edges from the prosceniumarch opening, thereby permitting the passage of llames, gases, By means or' my improved shield, however,

and products of combustion.

suolia result is rendered impossible, as the shield is rigid in every part, and after it has been moved in position to close the pr'oscenium-arch opening no amount of heat short of that sufficient to melt or fuse the steel framework of the shield can operate to eifect the most minute passage-way for the escape of flames, gases, hot air, or products of combustion.

Having described my invention, what I claim is l l. A fireprooi screen for the prosceniumarch openings oi' theaters, comprising arigid frame, and a plurality of mica panes supported by said frame, substantially as described.

2. A lire shield for the prosceniumarch openings of theaters, comprising a rigid frame, a plurality of transparent iireproof panes fitted in said frame, a tubular rib attached to the bottom of said frame, andalilling of comminuted asbestos and mica in said tubular rib, substantially as described.

3. A lireproof shield for the prosceniumarch openings of theaters, comprising two frames each consisting of intersecting metallic bars, panes of mica titted between said frames, means for fastening said frames together, and means for guiding the lire-shield into place across the proscenium-arch opening, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HOVARD M. SMITH.

Witnesses:

J. W. VARD, XV. C. CAINsHAw. 

